Lubricator



Sept. 15, 1959 F. HACKEDORN, JR., ETAL LUBRICATOR Filed April 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS H/L L 5. f? HACAEOOPMJZj EUSSEZL M SEN/FF l0 4* JAMES w. Tue/rare.

M 9M I ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1959 Filed April 15, 1958 H. F. HACKEDORN, JR., ETAL 2,904,375

LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS HILL/5 F-HACAEOOIPMT/R, RUSSELL IM 'SEN/FF' 7 nTA MES wrue/r51? tates Unite LRICATOR Application April 15, 1958, Serial No. 728,721

13 Claims. (Ci. 308--243) This invention relates to lubricators and more particularly to journal lubricators for use in railroad journal boxes or the like.

The usual railroad car wheel is mounted on an axle, the outer end of which comprises a journal which is disposed in a journal box which encloses the journal and the supporting bearings therefor. The journal box protects the journal bearing from dirt, water, etc. and forms a reservoir for lubricating oil. Numerous difierent types of devices, commonly called mechanical journal lubricators, have been provided as replacements for the usual waste packing for feeding lubricating oil from the base or sump portion of the journal box up to the journal. A number of these devices include wick means for lifting the oil by capillary action from the sump to the portion of the lubricator which engages the underside of the journal. 7

Most of the journal boxes in use today were designed for ordinary waste packing, and the clearance between the end of the journal and the outer end and bottom portions of the journal box is relatively small so that a problem is encountered in providing a journal lubricator device which may readily be inserted into, and removed from, operating position in a journal box.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide a journal lubricator which may readily be inserted into andremoved from a journal box, which will maintain a substantially constant pressure against the journal regardless of whether the journal is new or has been turned down to its maximum allowable limit, which will maintain the same contact area with the journal and the same oil feed thereto even though the lubricator may be slightly displaced circumferentially by rotation of the journal, and which is bonded together into an integral unit having great inherent resiliency, long life, and most efficient lubrication qualities.

The above and other objects of our invention will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through a typical railway journal box assembly, the section being taken substantially on the center line of the journal and one form of our lubricator being shown in operating position and partly in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lubricator unit of Figure I removed from the journal box and in its relaxed or extended position;

Figure 4 is a detached fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the fabric sleeve of the lubricator unit of Figure 1 together with the wick member that forms a part thereof.

Figure 5 is an illustrative side elevation of the spring support assembly for our lubricator. in theposition it assumes when the lubricator is removed from a journal ice box, the fabric sleeve being indicated in phantom lines;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 1 but illustrating our lubricator with auxiliary resilient plastic foam extensions at the opposite ends thereof;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken sub stantially on line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view generally similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of lu"- bricator unit;

Figure 9 is a detached fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the sleeve of the lubricator of Figure 8', together with the wick member that forms a part thereof, and

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a further modification of the lubricator sleeve and wick.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the shaft S has a journal portion 1 and an outer flange or head portion 2. The journal supports in the usual and wellknown manner the bearing brass 3 which in turn is mounted in the journal box generally indicated at B. As seen in Figure 2 the bearing 3 engages the journal 1 only on the upper portion thereof leaving the lower part exposed so that it may be supplied with lubricating oil from the base or sump portion '4 of the journal box B. The normal supply of oil, and the level thereof, is indicated at 5 in Figures 1 and 2 and the usual hinged door, partially shown at 6, closes the journal box while permitting ready access thereto. g

It will be observed from Figure 1 that the clearance between the bottom or sump portion 4 of journal box B and the journal flange 2 is relatively small. However, our lubricator, which is generally indicated at L in Figure 1 is sufficiently resilient and flexible that it may be pushed into place below the journal 1 and also with drawn therefrom when necessary. 7

One form of our improved lubricator unit is shown in detached cross sectional view in Figure 3. It includes an outer fabric sleeve 7 of suitable textile material, prefer} ably having an upper outer wearing surface 8 of heavy chenille type wicking material which may be integrall woven into the sleeve member 7.

The fabric sleeve 7 is tubular in form and is held in. open condition, with a generally oval transverse cross section having greater width than height '(see Figure 3);, by a spring support assembly generally indicated at A in Figure 5. This assembly A includes a plurality of spring support members 9 each of which, as best seen in Figure 3, is formed from spring wire into a generally C-shaped configuration having spaced ends 9 and 9". In order to increase the resiliency of the spring support members 9, spring loops 9', which may be of one or more convolutions, are formed at the opposite sides of each support member. It will be understood that as seen in Figure 3 the spring support members 9 are in compressed condition within the fabric sleeve 7. They are so formed initially that when inserted into the fabric sleeve 7 they will exert a continuous and substantial pressure against the sleeve 7 tending resiliently to hold it in the form shown in Figure 3. v I g In order properly to locate the spring support mentbers 9 and to facilitate their assembly with the fabric sleeve 7, and also to furnish further support for the sleeve 7, we provide a series of peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members 10. The top rows of spacer members 10 are disposed at the ends W and 9 respectively of thespring support members 9. These members 10 are of generally inverted channel shape as seen in Figure 3, and the wire making up the support members 9 extends therethrough and has its ends 9 and 9" looped or crimped (see Figure 3) to secure the. spacermembers in position. The spacer members 10 of each row are longitudinally aligned with each other and have their inner ends spaced apart as seen in Figure 5. Each spacer member 10 is secured to and extends between a pair of spring support members 9 thus holding them in proper spaced relation and, as they are substantially inflexible, their outer faces engage. the inner surface of the fabric sleeve 7 and provide eifective support therefor.

The inner ends of the spacer members 10 of each row are connected'together by flexible resilient link members 11, preferably of thin spring steel, whereby the center portion of the lubricator unit may be bent or flexed longitudinally to facilitate insertion into the journal box and proper engagement with the journal. 'At the outer corner of the spring support assembly A slightly modified spacer members 12 are employed. These are also generally channel-shaped in cross section but are curved to conform with the curvature of the coil spring portions 9" of the spring support members 9.

These modified spacer members 12 are also preferably connected at their inner ends by resilient link members 13. which function in the same general manner as link members 11. A bottom row of spacer members 10 is disposed at the bottom of the spring support assembly A, and these members are secured to the spring support members 9 by crimping or other suitable means and are also connected at their inner ends by a flexible link member 11.

A center wick member, generally indicated at W, is joined, as by stitching, to the inner face of sleeve 7 along a longitudinal portion thereof that is disposed between the aligned spaced ends 9 and 9" of the series of parallel spring support members 9. In this form of the invention, the wick member W is formed separately from a remainder ofthe sleeve 7 and comprises a doubleply fabric body having spaced lengths or strands 14 of wicking material, such as fiberglass roving, stitched in place between the plys of fabric and extending transversely of the length of the wick member W. The central portion of the two-ply fabric body of the wick member W is secured to the inner face of the sleeve 7 and thus two depending wick panels 15 and 16 are provided which, when the lubricator unit is in the position it assumes in a journal box, hang downwardly into the interior of the sleeve 7. Although we have illustrated the wick member W as being of the particular described construction, it will be understood that other types and arrangements of wicking material may be employed to depend downwardly into the interior of the lubricator to feed oil to the top portion 8 of the sleeve, two other arrangements being described below.

In manufacturing our improved lubricators the fabric sleeve 7 with the wick member W secured thereto is completed and the spring support assembly A is compressed and inserted thereinto. For some operating con- .ditions the structure so produced may provide a suitable and adequate lubricator. However, in order to increase the resiliency of the lubricator structure and to make the entire assembly much more rugged and effective as a lubricator, we produce within the sleeve 7 of the assembled device a body of oil resistant plastic foam material preferably having a cross-sectional contour like that shown in Figure 3. This plastic foam material may be of various types, but we have found that polyurethane cellular foam has the desired resistance to deterioration in the presence of oil, permits the flow of oil therethrough, and adds the desired strength and resiliency to the entire lubricator assembly. This type of polyurethane material is available commercially from different sources, the material known as Poly-Koolfoam, supplied by The Dayton Rubber 00., having been found suitable for our purposes. This material comes in the form of two liquids which, when mixed and poured into the space desired to be filled with foam material, immediately and quickly foams up to fill the space and set into a compact resilient cellular structure. Of course, the proper quantity of the basic material is employed to just fill the space in question.

In our lubricators, we prefer to stand the sleeve 7, with the spring support assembly A therein, on end on a suitable support. Tubes and cores are then inserted into the space within the sleeve to produce longitudinal holes or passages 17, a longitudinally extending vertical channel 18, and the outwardly extending chambers 19 and 20 which connect to the channel 18, extend out sub stantially to thespring loops 9', and are of outwardly converging cross section for reasons to be later referred to.

When the lubricator assembly is so disposed and the cores are in place, it being noted that the wick member W will be disposed within the core which produces the channel 18 and chambers 19 and 20 so that it is not contacted by or adhered to the foam material, the proper quantity of the basic liquid material is poured into the sleeve. The foaming action takes place immediately and the entire interior of the lubricator device, except for the cored portions, is filled with cellular resilient foam. The cores are coated with oil or other lubricant before positioning in the sleeve and thus may readily be withdrawn after the foam has set up. The resulting structure is that shown in Figure 3 and, as the polyurethane foam has excellent adhesive properties, an extremely strong bond is formed between the body of plastic foam and the inner surface of the sleeve 7 and also with the parts of the spring assembly A that are engaged by the foam.

The bottom half of the lubricator unit, between the spring loops 1212, is generally arcuate to conform with the bottom of the journal box B. The top half of the unit arches upwardly in the opposite direction when the lubricator is out of the journal box (see Figure 3). To insert the lubricator into operating position, it is compressed vertically and slid beneath the flange 2 of the journal 1 until it reaches the position seen in Figures 1 and 2. When so disposed, the upper portion of the lubricator has been pushed down into concave contour with the center part of the wearing and lubricating surface 8 in direct engagement with the underside of the journal 1.

With the lubricator in this compressed position the depending wick panels 15 and 16 have been moved downwardly until they approximately reach the bottom of the sleeve 7. In this position, as clearly seen in Figures l and 2, the wick panels extend into the pool of oil 5 and, due to the capillary action of the wicks, feed oil up to the top lubricating portion 8 of the sleeve where it is continuously and effectively transferred to the journal 1.

The plastic foam body of our lubricator may generally be deemed to be composed of a pair of opposite top portions 21 and 22 and a pair of opposite bottom portions 23 and 24; When the lubricator is not in working position the top portions are spaced from the bottom portions by the chambers 19 and 20. However, when the lubricator is compressed into operating position as seen in Figure 4, the opposing faces of top portion 21 and bottom portion 23, and also of top portion 22 and bottom portion 24, are brought together whereby the added resiliency and support of the plastic foam material within the lubricator sleeve is available and eifective to assist in holding the lubricator against the journal.

Due to' the shape and arrangement of our lubricator, it will be observed that even if the lubricator should be displaced 'around the journal 1 from its preferred position' directly 'therebelow, which displacement may occur due to the rotation of the shaft, the engagement of our lubricator and its lubricating action do not change. As the plastic foam material is pervious and permits oil to flow therethrough it assists in transferring oil from the; sump to the upper portion 8: of the lubricator sleeve, In order toenable the lubricator readily to be withdrawn from the journal box, a loop 25 of cord or the likeis preferably attached to one end of the lubricator (see Figure 1), as by embedding in the plastic foam material or attaching-it to the spring assembly A before the foam is created in the sleeve 7.

In Figures 6' and 7 we have illustrated a slightly modified form of our lubricator in which the main lubricator element L' is like that previously described but in addition has plastic foam extensions 26 and 27 at the. outer and inner ends of the main lubricator body. Asseen in Figure 7, these extensions 26 and.27 are contoured so that their upper surfaces approximately fit the circumferential face of the journal flange 2 and the shaft S atthe inner end of the journal 1. Inner extension 27 also is adapted to abut the inner end of the journal box. These additional plastic foam extensions are effective to prevent undesirable drawing away of oil from the outer and inner ends due to the centrifugal action of flange 2 and shaft S. In some cases the extensions 26 and 27 may be identical at both ends of the lubricator, thus making the unit reversible, and they may be made in the form of separately molded foam bodies attached to the endsof the lubricator as by suitable cement, or they may be formed integrally at the same time the interior of the lubricator sleeve is filled with the plastic foam material.

Figures 8 and 9 of the drawing illustrate a lubricator L" which is modified with respect to the arrangement of the sleeve and the wick. In this form of the invention allof the remaining parts of the assembly, including the journal 1, the journal box B and base or sump portion 4, the spacer members 10 and the plastic foam-members 21, 22, 23 and 24, are all shown as being identical with the corresponding parts of the previously described modification. The only differences are in the construction of the sleeve and the depending wick. In this modification of the invention, the fabric sleeve 7 is composed of a heavy felt member with wearing surfaces 8' made up of a suitable textile material such as a heavy chenille type of wicking material. The textile fabric has downwardly extending end portions 29 which, with the ends 30 of the felt strip making up the sleeve 7', constitute the wick W. Preferably the loops of the chenille extend only to the zone where the two pieces of fabric come together, and do not extend into the wick. The two layers 29 and the two layers 30 making up the Wick are stitched together, and the stitching at the line 31 holds the ends of the felt together to make a continuous sleeve. The wick W is thus joined tothe sleeve 7. As shown in Figure 8, when the lubricator is installed, the wick W dips into the lubricant in the sump just as described in connection with the previous modification.,

Another somewhat similar modified form of sleeve is shown in Figure 10. Here the sleeve 7" is composed of a. textile fabric of the same type as the sleeve 7 ofthe first described modification. The sleeve 7" has a chenille wearing surface 8", and the wick is provided by extending the ends 32 of the material of the sleeve downwardly as shown. Additional wicking may be provided by L- shaped pieces of felt or other fabric 33 which are stitched to the sleeve 7" and which extend beneath the wearing surface 8" and have downwardly extending end portions 34'that make up the wick W" with the end portions 32 of the textile fabric sieeve. As in the modification illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, these fabric layers are stitched together to form the wick and the stitching adjacent the line 36 makes the sleeve into endless form.

The lubricator sleeves of Figures 9 and 10 can be used with either the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 or with that shown in Figures 6 and 7. In the lubricator shown in FiguresD and 10,, the wicks W and W" are joined to the sleeves 7 and 7" by having portions.that areformed integrally with the sleeves. Both of'these modifications are advantageous in that at least part of the wicking material that dips into the lubricant in the sump is continuous with the material forming the wearing surfaces of the lubricating sleeves. Thus, in these modifications, there is a continuous capillary path from the sump, of the journal box to the wearing surfaces of the lubricators. In operation these modifications are otherwise substantially identical with the previously described form.

Although we have described the illustrated embodiments of our invention in considable detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made in the particular form, arrangement, and proportions of our improved mechanical lubricator. Accordingly, we do not wish to be limited to the exact devices herein shown and described but claim as our invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A journal lubricator comprising a fabric sleeve,

a plurality of spring support members disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members,vsaid spacer members being substantially inflexible, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent spacer members of said rows whereby longitudinal flexing of said sleeve ispermitted, and a wick member projecting down from the inner face of said sleeve and extending lengthwise therein for substantially the full length thereof, said wick member extending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box below. and in contact with the journal.

2. A journal: lubricator. comprising a fabric strip formed into a sleeve, a plurality of spring support members disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, periph erally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring sup port spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members, said spacer members being substantially inflexible, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent spacer members of said rows whereby longitudinal flexing of said sleeve is permitted, and a wick including two plies constituting the ends of said strip and extend ing lengthwise within said sleeve, said wick including a portion depending vertically downwardly across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box below and in contact with the journal.

3. A journal lubricator according to claim 2 wherein thefabric strip is composed of felt, said sleeve having textile fabric wearing surfaces adjacent said wick and said ,wick also includingtextile fabric plies integrally joined to said wearing surfaces.

4. A journal lubricator according to claim 2 wherein the fabric strip is composed of a textile fabric having wearing surfaces adjacent said wick, and said wick also comprising felt plies integrally joined to portions extending beneath said wearing surfaces.

5. A journal lubricator comprising a sleeve of textile material, a plurality of spring support members disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connectedto adjacent spring supportmembers, said spacer'members beingsubstantially inflexible, flexible resilient link;members-extending be wee an c necting adiacentspacermembers..of said rows whereby longitudinal flexing of said sleeve is permitted, a wick depending down from the inner face of said sleeve and extending lengthwise therein for substantially the full length thereof, said wick including a portion extending vertically across the interior of said sleeve'when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box below and in contact with the journal, and a body of a plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members.

' 6. A journal lubricator comprising a sleeve of textile fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having laterally spaced apart ends with an open gap therebetween and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, and a center wick joined to the inner face of said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said wick including a depending portion extending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the journal.

7. A journal lubricator comprising a sleeve of textile fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned -spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, a center wick member depending from said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said wick member including a depending portion extending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the journal, and a body of a plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members.

8. A journal lubricator comprising an open ended sleeve of textile fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, and a center wick member joined to the inner face of said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said wick member comprising a doubleply fabric body having spaced strands of roving material secured therein and extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, the central portion of said fabric body being secured to said sleeve whereby a pair of spaced depending wick panels are provided depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the center of the journal.

' 9. A journal lubricator comprising an open ended sleeve of fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, and a center wick member secured to the inner face of said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said wick member comprising a plurality of plies formed integrally with the material of said sleeve, said wick depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the center of the journal.

10. A journal lubricator comprising an open ended sleeve of textile fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, a center wick member secured to the inner face of said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed 'between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said Wick member comprising a doubleply fabric body having spaced strands of roving material secured therein and extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, the central portion of said fabric body being secured to said sleeve whereby a pair of spaced depending wick panels are provided depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the center of the journal, and a body of a plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members, said body having a longitudinally extending transverse channel free of said foam material and in which said wick panels are disposed.

11. A journal lubricator comprising an open ended sleeve of fabric material, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, a center wick member joined to the inner face of said sleeve along a longitudinal portion thereof disposed between the aligned spaced ends of said spring support members, said wick member comprising a multiply fabric body having two plies integrally joined to said sleeve, said wick depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the center of the journal, and a body of a plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members, said body having a longitudinally extending transverse channel free of said foam material and in which said wick panels are disposed.

12. A journal lubricator comprising a strip of textile fabric material formed into an open ended sleeve, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve and holding said sleeve open in the form of a tube having a greater cross-sectional width than height, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, a center wick member comprising the end portions of said strip depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the journal, said strip having wearing surfaces adjacent said depending end portions and said wick also comprising felt members secured to said end portions and extending beneath said wearing portions, and a body of oil resistant plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members, said body having a longitudinally extending transverse channel in which said wick is disposed, said body also having chambers extending oppositely outwardly from said channel whereby compressing of the lubricator in a journal box resiliently to engage the journal therein is facilitated.

13. A journal lubricator comprising a strip of felt fabric formed into an open ended sleeve, a plurality of spring support members having spaced ends and disposed within said sleeve in spaced apart parallel relation to each other with said spaced ends in longitudinal alignment, said members extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve and holding said sleeve open in the form of a tube having a greater crosssectional width than height, peripherally spaced rows of longitudinally aligned spring support spacer members extending between and connected to adjacent spring support members at the opposite end portions of said sleeve, said spacer members being substantially inflexible and having outer bearing faces engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, flexible resilient link members extending between and connecting adjacent ends of said aligned spacer members of said rows at the center portion of said sleeve whereby longitudinal flexing thereof is permitted, a center wick member comprising the end portion of said strip depending vertically across the interior of said sleeve when said lubricator is positioned in a journal box with said longitudinal portion of said sleeve below and in contact with the journal, said sleeve having textile fabric wearing surfaces adjacent said wick and said wick also having plies integrally joined to said wearing surfaces, and a body of oil resistant plastic foam material bonded to the inner face of said sleeve and substantially enclosing said spring support members, spacer members, and resilient link members, said body having a longitudinally extending transverse channel in which said wick is disposed, said body also having chambers extending oppositely outwardly from said channel whereby compressing of the lubricator in a journal box resiliently to engage the journal therein is facilitated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,553 Sichelschmidt Apr. 30, 1895 601,867 Austin Apr. 5, 1898 2,079,734 Ditmore May 11, 1937 2,115,457 Cunningham et a1. Apr. 26, 1938 2,807,803 Rockwell Sept. 24, 1957 

